MOBILITY AS A SERVICE (MaaS) WITH MODULAR INTERIORS

ABSTRACT

Delivery of a modularly reconfigurable vehicle may include receiving a request for the modularly reconfigurable vehicle, including a desired configuration associated with the modularly reconfigurable vehicle and a location associated with the request. Delivery of a modularly reconfigurable vehicle may include identifying the modularly reconfigurable vehicle from a plurality of candidate modularly reconfigurable vehicles and a target reconfiguration station from a plurality of candidate reconfiguration stations, providing an instruction to the modularly reconfigurable vehicle to travel to the target reconfiguration station, upon the modularly reconfigurable vehicle reaching the target reconfiguration station, providing an instruction to reconfigure the modularly reconfigurable vehicle according to the desired configuration as a modularly reconfigured vehicle, and upon the modularly reconfigured vehicle being reconfigured according to the desired configuration, providing an instruction to the modularly reconfigured vehicle to travel to the location associated with the request.

BACKGROUND

Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) is a shift from personally-owned modes oftransportation and towards mobility solutions that are consumed as aservice. For example, this may be enabled by combining transportationservices from public and private transportation providers through aunified gateway that creates and manages a trip, which users can pay forusing a MaaS account. Users can pay per trip or a monthly fee for asubscription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

According to one aspect, a method for delivery of a modularlyreconfigurable vehicle may include receiving a request for the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle. The request may include a desired configurationassociated with the modularly reconfigurable vehicle and a locationassociated with the request. The method may include identifying themodularly reconfigurable vehicle from a plurality of candidate modularlyreconfigurable vehicles and a target reconfiguration station from aplurality of candidate reconfiguration stations, providing aninstruction to the modularly reconfigurable vehicle to travel to thetarget reconfiguration station, upon the modularly reconfigurablevehicle reaching the target reconfiguration station, providing aninstruction to reconfigure the modularly reconfigurable vehicleaccording to the desired configuration as a modularly reconfiguredvehicle, and upon the modularly reconfigured vehicle being reconfiguredaccording to the desired configuration, providing an instruction to themodularly reconfigured vehicle to travel to the location associated withthe request.

The method may include upon the modularly reconfigured vehicle arrivingat the location associated with the request, providing an instruction toa second modularly reconfigurable vehicle at the location associatedwith the request to travel to a predetermined location. The method mayinclude upon the modularly reconfigurable vehicle reaching the targetreconfiguration station, reconfiguring the modularly reconfigurablevehicle according to the desired configuration as the modularlyreconfigured vehicle.

The method may include determining the location associated with therequest, identifying a current configuration associated with each of theplurality of candidate modularly reconfigurable vehicles, identifyingthe modularly reconfigurable vehicle from the plurality of candidatemodularly reconfigurable vehicles based on a reconfiguration timeassociated with reconfiguring the modularly reconfigurable vehicleaccording to the desired configuration as the modularly reconfiguredvehicle from a current configuration associated with respectiveplurality of candidate modularly reconfigurable vehicles, identifyingthe modularly reconfigurable vehicle from the plurality of candidatemodularly reconfigurable vehicles based on a distance or a travel timefrom a current position of respective plurality of candidate modularlyreconfigurable vehicles to the target reconfiguration station, oridentifying the target reconfiguration station based on a distance or atravel time from respective candidate reconfiguration stations to thelocation associated with the request.

The method may include reconfiguring the modularly reconfigurablevehicle as the desired configuration includes reconfiguration using anoffice module, a camping module, a recreation or sports module, apower-sports module, a limo or shuttle module, an e-commerce module, amobile charger exchange module, or a short stay or hotel module. Inresponse to receiving the instruction to travel to the locationassociated with the request, the modularly reconfigured vehicle mayautonomously navigate to the location associated with the request.

According to one aspect, a system for delivery of a modularlyreconfigurable vehicle may include a processor. The processor mayperform receiving a request for the modularly reconfigurable vehicle.The request may include a desired configuration associated with themodularly reconfigurable vehicle and a location associated with therequest. The processor may perform identifying the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle from a plurality of candidate modularlyreconfigurable vehicles and a target reconfiguration station from aplurality of candidate reconfiguration stations, providing aninstruction to the modularly reconfigurable vehicle to travel to thetarget reconfiguration station, upon the modularly reconfigurablevehicle reaching the target reconfiguration station, providing aninstruction to reconfigure the modularly reconfigurable vehicleaccording to the desired configuration as a modularly reconfiguredvehicle, and upon the modularly reconfigured vehicle being reconfiguredaccording to the desired configuration, providing an instruction to themodularly reconfigured vehicle to travel to the location associated withthe request.

The modularly reconfigurable vehicle may include a drive module, a shellmodule, and an interchangeable module. The interchangeable module mayinclude an office module, a camping module, a recreation or sportsmodule, a power-sports module, a limo or shuttle module, an e-commercemodule, a mobile charger exchange module, or a short stay or hotelmodule. The drive module may include an autonomous drive controllerautonomously navigating the modularly reconfigurable vehicle from acurrent position to the location associated with the request.

According to one aspect, a system for delivery of a modularlyreconfigurable vehicle may include a processor. The processor mayperform receiving a request for the modularly reconfigurable vehicle.The request may include a desired configuration associated with themodularly reconfigurable vehicle and a location associated with therequest. The processor may perform identifying the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle from a plurality of candidate modularlyreconfigurable vehicles and a target reconfiguration station from aplurality of candidate reconfiguration stations, providing aninstruction to the modularly reconfigurable vehicle to travel to thetarget reconfiguration station, upon the modularly reconfigurablevehicle reaching the target reconfiguration station, providing aninstruction to reconfigure the modularly reconfigurable vehicleaccording to the desired configuration as a modularly reconfiguredvehicle, upon the modularly reconfigured vehicle being reconfiguredaccording to the desired configuration, providing an instruction to themodularly reconfigured vehicle to travel to the location associated withthe request, and upon the modularly reconfigured vehicle arriving at thelocation associated with the request, providing an instruction to asecond modularly reconfigurable vehicle at the location associated withthe request to travel to a predetermined location.

The processor may determine the location associated with the request.The processor may receive a current configuration associated with eachof the plurality of candidate modularly reconfigurable vehicles. Theprocessor may identify the modularly reconfigurable vehicle from theplurality of candidate modularly reconfigurable vehicles based on areconfiguration time associated with reconfiguring the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle according to the desired configuration as themodularly reconfigured vehicle from a current configuration associatedwith respective plurality of candidate modularly reconfigurablevehicles. The processor may identify the modularly reconfigurablevehicle from the plurality of candidate modularly reconfigurablevehicles based on a distance or a travel time from a current position ofrespective plurality of candidate modularly reconfigurable vehicles tothe target reconfiguration station. The processor may identify thetarget reconfiguration station based on a distance or a travel time fromrespective candidate reconfiguration stations to the location associatedwith the request.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary component diagram of a systemfor delivery of a modularly reconfigurable vehicle, according to oneaspect.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an exemplary flow diagram of a method fordelivery of a modularly reconfigurable vehicle, according to one aspect.

FIGS. 3A-3B are illustrations of an exemplary modularly reconfigurablevehicle, according to one aspect.

FIGS. 4-6 are illustrations of an exemplary modularly reconfigurablevehicle, according to one aspect.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an exemplary user interface associated withthe system for delivery of the modularly reconfigurable vehicle of FIG.1, according to one aspect.

FIGS. 8A-8D are illustrations of exemplary scenarios associated withdelivery of a modularly reconfigurable vehicle, according to one aspect.

FIGS. 9A-9D are illustrations of exemplary scenarios associated withdelivery of a modularly reconfigurable vehicle, according to one aspect.

FIGS. 10A-10D are illustrations of exemplary scenarios associated withdelivery of a modularly reconfigurable vehicle, according to one aspect.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of an example computer-readable medium orcomputer-readable device including processor-executable instructionsconfigured to embody one or more of the provisions set forth herein,according to one aspect.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of an example computing environment where oneor more of the provisions set forth herein are implemented, according toone aspect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following includes definitions of selected terms employed herein.The definitions include various examples and/or forms of components thatfall within the scope of a term and that may be used for implementation.The examples are not intended to be limiting. Further, one havingordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the components discussedherein, may be combined, omitted or organized with other components ororganized into different architectures.

A “processor”, as used herein, processes signals and performs generalcomputing and arithmetic functions. Signals processed by the processormay include digital signals, data signals, computer instructions,processor instructions, messages, a bit, a bit stream, or other meansthat may be received, transmitted, and/or detected. Generally, theprocessor may be a variety of various processors including multiplesingle and multicore processors and co-processors and other multiplesingle and multicore processor and co-processor architectures. Theprocessor may include various modules to execute various functions.

A “memory”, as used herein, may include volatile memory and/ornon-volatile memory. Non-volatile memory may include, for example, ROM(read only memory), PROM (programmable read only memory), EPROM(erasable PROM), and EEPROM (electrically erasable PROM). Volatilememory may include, for example, RAM (random access memory), synchronousRAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double datarate SDRAM (DDRSDRAM), and direct RAM bus RAM (DRRAM). The memory maystore an operating system that controls or allocates resources of acomputing device.

A “disk” or “drive”, as used herein, may be a magnetic disk drive, asolid state disk drive, a floppy disk drive, a tape drive, a Zip drive,a flash memory card, and/or a memory stick. Furthermore, the disk may bea CD-ROM (compact disk ROM), a CD recordable drive (CD-R drive), a CDrewritable drive (CD-RW drive), and/or a digital video ROM drive(DVD-ROM). The disk may store an operating system that controls orallocates resources of a computing device.

A “bus”, as used herein, refers to an interconnected architecture thatis operably connected to other computer components inside a computer orbetween computers. The bus may transfer data between the computercomponents. The bus may be a memory bus, a memory controller, aperipheral bus, an external bus, a crossbar switch, and/or a local bus,among others. The bus may also be a vehicle bus that interconnectscomponents inside a vehicle using protocols such as Media OrientedSystems Transport (MOST), Controller Area network (CAN), LocalInterconnect Network (LIN), among others.

A “database”, as used herein, may refer to a table, a set of tables, anda set of data stores (e.g., disks) and/or methods for accessing and/ormanipulating those data stores.

An “operable connection”, or a connection by which entities are“operably connected”, is one in which signals, physical communications,and/or logical communications may be sent and/or received. An operableconnection may include a wireless interface, a physical interface, adata interface, and/or an electrical interface.

A “computer communication”, as used herein, refers to a communicationbetween two or more computing devices (e.g., computer, personal digitalassistant, cellular telephone, network device) and may be, for example,a network transfer, a file transfer, an applet transfer, an email, ahypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) transfer, and so on. A computercommunication may occur across, for example, a wireless system (e.g.,IEEE 802.11), an Ethernet system (e.g., IEEE 802.3), a token ring system(e.g., IEEE 802.5), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network(WAN), a point-to-point system, a circuit switching system, a packetswitching system, among others.

A “mobile device”, as used herein, may be a computing device typicallyhaving a display screen with a user input (e.g., touch, keyboard) and aprocessor for computing. Mobile devices include handheld devices, mobiledevices, smart phones, laptops, tablets, and e-readers.

A “vehicle”, as used herein, refers to any moving vehicle that iscapable of carrying one or more human occupants and is powered by anyform of energy. The term “vehicle” includes cars, trucks, vans,minivans, SUVs, motorcycles, scooters, boats, personal watercraft, andaircraft. In some scenarios, a motor vehicle includes one or moreengines. Further, the term “vehicle” may refer to an electric vehicle(EV) that is powered entirely or partially by one or more electricmotors powered by an electric battery. The EV may include batteryelectric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV).Additionally, the term “vehicle” may refer to an autonomous vehicleand/or self-driving vehicle powered by any form of energy. Theautonomous vehicle may or may not carry one or more human occupants.

A “vehicle system”, as used herein, may be any automatic or manualsystems that may be used to enhance the vehicle, driving, and/or safety.Exemplary vehicle systems include an autonomous driving system, anelectronic stability control system, an anti-lock brake system, a brakeassist system, an automatic brake prefill system, a low speed followsystem, a cruise control system, a collision warning system, a collisionmitigation braking system, an auto cruise control system, a lanedeparture warning system, a blind spot indicator system, a lane keepassist system, a navigation system, a transmission system, brake pedalsystems, an electronic power steering system, visual devices (e.g.,camera systems, proximity sensor systems), a climate control system, anelectronic pretensioning system, a monitoring system, a passengerdetection system, a vehicle suspension system, a vehicle seatconfiguration system, a vehicle cabin lighting system, an audio system,a sensory system, among others.

The aspects discussed herein may be described and implemented in thecontext of non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storingcomputer-executable instructions. Non-transitory computer-readablestorage media include computer storage media and communication media.For example, flash memory drives, digital versatile discs (DVDs),compact discs (CDs), floppy disks, and tape cassettes. Non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media may include volatile and non-volatile,removable and non-removable media implemented in any method ortechnology for storage of information such as computer readableinstructions, data structures, modules, or other data.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary component diagram of a system100 for delivery of a modularly reconfigurable vehicle, according to oneaspect. The system 100 for delivery of the modularly reconfigurablevehicle may be implemented on a mobile device 102 or implemented on amodularly reconfigurable vehicle 104. The vehicle 104 (to be modified)may be delivered to a modification station and instructions onmodification may be provided to a modification station device 106.According to one aspect, delivery of the modularly reconfigurablevehicle 104 may be facilitated by a human driver. Communication ofdelivery instructions may be provided by a second mobile device 108 tothe human driver. In this regard, a server 110 may facilitatecommunication between the mobile device 102 (e.g., first mobile device),the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104, the modification stationand/or modification station device 106, and the second mobile device108. The system 100 for delivery of the modularly reconfigurable vehiclemay also be implemented on the server 110, according to one aspect.

As used herein, the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 may be avehicle to be modified or a vehicle to be reconfigured which may bemodified or reconfigured from a first configuration to a secondconfiguration as the modified vehicle, modified according to a desiredconfiguration, for example. The modification station may be areconfiguration station or a station where reconfiguration and/ormodification may be performed. For example, the modification station maybe a vehicle dealership.

The mobile device 102 may include a processor 112, which may include anapplication module 114 for executing or running an applicationassociated with delivery of the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104and/or reconfiguration of the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104, suchas for ordering or requesting the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104.The mobile device 102 may include a memory 116, a storage drive 118, adisplay 120, an input device 122, a global positioning system (GPS) 124,a communication interface 126, and a bus 128. The application module 114of the mobile device 102 or first mobile device may be utilized to runor execute an application which may be utilized to request the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle 104 according to a user's desired specificationsor desired configuration.

Similarly, the vehicle 104 may be utilized to implement the system 100for delivery of the modularly reconfigurable vehicle. In this regard,the vehicle 104 may include a processor 132, which may be implementedvia a controller, a memory 134, a storage drive 136, a display 138, aninput device 140, a GPS 142 for determining a position of the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle 104, a communication interface 144, a drivemodule 146, a shell module 148 including an attachment interface 150, aninterchangeable module 152 including an attachment interface 154, and acontroller area network (CAN) bus 156. The modularly reconfigurablevehicle 104 may be manually driven or autonomously navigated to themodification station. According to one aspect, the request for adifferent modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 or the request for thesame vehicle to be modularly reconfigured according to the user'sdesired specifications may be placed directly from the vehicle 104.

At the modification station, the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104may be modularly reconfigured according to the desired configuration(e.g., from the first configuration to the second configuration). Inother words, the interchangeable module 152 may be replaced with anotherinterchangeable module 192 associated with attachment interface 194, forexample. The modification station device 106 may include a display 162and a communication interface 164.

The second mobile device 108 may include a processor 166, which mayinclude an application module 168. The application module 168 of thesecond mobile device 108 may be utilized for executing or running theapplication associated with delivery of the modularly reconfigurablevehicle 104 and/or reconfiguration of the modularly reconfigurablevehicle 104, such as for providing delivery instructions associated withthe modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 (e.g., in scenarios whereautonomous delivery is not utilized). The second mobile device 108 mayinclude a memory 170, a storage drive 172, a display 174, an inputdevice 176, a GPS 178, a communication interface 180, and a bus 182.

The second mobile device 108 may be utilized by an operator of a vehicleto deliver the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 to a reconfigurationstation or modification station or utilized by the operator of thevehicle to deliver the vehicle 104, before or after modification orreconfiguration, to a desired location. In this way, delivery of themodularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 may be provided where user selectedor user configured modules may be ordered via a mobile application andinserted into the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104. According to oneaspect, the system 100 for delivery of the modularly reconfigurablevehicle may utilize form fit interchangeable modules 152, 192 which fitthe interior of the vehicle 104. Further, the interchangeable modules152, 192 may be pre-made or pre-configured so that they are quicklysubstituted for one another.

Explained yet another way, the system 100 for delivery of the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle may enable a user to enroll in and/or utilizemobility as a service (MaaS), either with a vehicle owned by the user orwith a vehicle subscription, to order different types or styles of MaaSvehicles outfitted with different interchangeable modules 192, includingan attachment interface 194, or with different configurations and/orinteriors. The modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 may be outfittedwith purpose built or custom interiors selected by the user based on orin accordance with parameters inputted to the mobile device 102. Forexample, the interiors may be selected online or using the application,and the user may be able to make an appointment for pickup or delivery.

The modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 may be selected from any numberof candidate vehicles to be modified and driven, either manually orautonomously, to a target modification or reconfiguration station (e.g.,the vehicle dealership), and modified based on the parameters inputtedto the mobile device 102. For example, the parameters or desiredconfiguration may be passed from the server 110 to the communicationinterface 164 of the modification station device 106 via a communicationinterface 110 c, and displayed on the display 162 for manualmodification.

As previously discussed, the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 mayinclude the drive module 146, which may be an engine for the vehicle104, the shell module 148, and/or the interchangeable module(s) 152,192. The drive module 146 may include an autonomous drive controllerautonomously navigating the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 from acurrent position to the location associated with the request or to thetarget reconfiguration station or other programmed destination. Thedrive module 146 may be attached to the shell module 148, which mayinclude the attachment interface 150. This attachment interface 150 ofthe shell module 148 may enable the interchangeable module 152 to beattached to the shell module 148 of the vehicle 104 via the attachmentinterface 154 of the interchangeable module. Any known means ofattachment or fastening devices or mechanisms may be utilized.

According to one aspect, the interchangeable module 152 may be an officemodule, a camping module, a recreation or sports module, a power-sportsmodule, a limo or shuttle module, an e-commerce or shopping module, acafé module, an augmented reality (AR) module or a video game module, ahealthcare module (e.g., for transporting medical teams or transportingpatients), a mobile charger exchange module, or a short stay or hotelmodule. In this way, the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 may bereconfigured according to the desired configuration using one or more ofthe above-described modules. The application module 114 of the mobiledevice 102 may render a preview of one or more different types of theinterchangeable modules on the display 120 of the mobile device 102.Additionally, the application module 114 of the mobile device 102 maypresent or render real time location data associated with a selectedmodularly reconfigurable vehicle (e.g., from the plurality of candidatemodularly reconfigurable vehicles). In this way, the display 120 of themobile device 102 may render information enabling the ordering user todetermine the location of the modularly reconfigurable vehicles and/or astatus associated with the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104, such aswhether the desired configuration is set or a percentage complete forthe modification.

Once the vehicle is fully modified or reconfigured, the vehicle 104 maybe picked up at the modification or reconfiguration station, or driven,either manually or autonomously, to the user. In this way, delivery ofthe modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 may be provided.

A wide variety of variations may be implemented, according to one ormore aspects. For example, any of the vehicles described herein may bedriven manually or autonomously navigated from a first location orposition to a second location or position. Further, any of the vehiclesmay travel a first portion of a route in a manually driven fashion and asecond portion of the route in the autonomous navigation fashion or viceversa. According to one aspect, the user requesting the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle 104 may outright own the modularly reconfigurablevehicle 104. According to another aspect, the user requesting themodularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 may merely be a subscriber to aMaaS subscription.

According to one aspect, the user requesting the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle 104 may have a first modularly reconfigurablevehicle present and the request for the modularly reconfigurable vehicle104 may result in the first modularly reconfigurable vehicle being sentto the target reconfiguration station for reconfiguration and back tothe user. According to another aspect, the user requesting the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle 104 may have a second modularly reconfigurablevehicle present and the request for the modularly reconfigurable vehicle104 may result in a first modularly reconfigurable vehicle beingdelivered to the user and the second modularly reconfigurable vehiclebeing sent to another location. According to yet another aspect, theuser requesting the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 may have nomodularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 present and the request for themodularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 may result in the first modularlyreconfigurable vehicle being sent from a location not associated withthe user to the target reconfiguration station for reconfiguration andthen to the user, as will be described with reference to FIG. 8A-8D.

According to one aspect, the user may use the mobile device 102 toinitiate the request for the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104. Therequest may include a desired configuration associated with themodularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 and a location associated with therequest or a location associated with the user. For example, theapplication module 114 of the processor 112 of the mobile device 102 mayexecute the application associated with delivery of the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle 104, which may display, using the display 120, auser interface (e.g., illustrated and discussed in greater detail inFIG. 7, herein). The user interface may be rendered to provide the userwith several different options for the desired configuration for theuser. In other words, the user, may input, using the input device 122(e.g., which may be a touch screen, keyboard, mouse, button, etc.),parameters associated with the ordering or the request for the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle 104. Other parameters may also be received, suchas a desired pickup or delivery time, a desired reconfiguration station,etc.

The GPS 124 of the mobile device 102 may determine the locationassociated with the request or the location associated with the mobiledevice 102 or the user and pass this information to the processor 112via the bus 128. This location information and the parameters associatedwith the request for the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 may bestored within the memory 116 of the mobile device 102 or the storagedrive 118 of the mobile device 102 via the bus 128. Further, theprocessor 112 of the mobile device 102 may determine whether an existingmodularly reconfigurable vehicle (e.g., a second modularlyreconfigurable vehicle) is in use by the user (i.e., the user has amodularly reconfigurable vehicle which is not configured according tohis or her desired configuration). Another example of information whichmay be determined by the processor 112 of the mobile device 102 mayinclude autonomous navigation capabilities of the second modularlyreconfigurable vehicle. The communication interface 126 of the mobiledevice 102 may include an antenna and may transmit the locationassociated with the request, the location associated with the mobiledevice 102 or the user, the parameters associated with the request forthe modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104, any presence informationassociated with the second modularly reconfigurable vehicle, and/or theautonomous navigation capabilities of the second modularlyreconfigurable vehicle to the server 110, for example.

Although the above request is described in terms of the mobile device102, the request for the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 may beplaced directly from the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104. Accordingto one aspect, the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 may travel tothe reconfiguration station and return to the user in a reconfiguredstate, as will be described with reference to FIG. 9A-9D. According toanother aspect, a different vehicle may be reconfigured and sent to theuser, as will be described with reference to FIG. 10A-10D.

The server 110 may include a processor 110 b and may receive, from thecommunication interface 126 of the mobile device 102, the request forthe modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104. The processor 110 b of theserver 110 may identify the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 from aplurality of candidate modularly reconfigurable vehicles and a targetreconfiguration station from a plurality of candidate reconfigurationstations. The server 110 may also identify a current configurationassociated with each of the plurality of candidate modularlyreconfigurable vehicles. Based on the determined current configurationand the desired configuration for the user, selection of the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle 104 from the plurality of candidate modularlyreconfigurable vehicles may be performed by the processor 110 b of theserver 110. If one of the plurality of candidate modularlyreconfigurable vehicles is already configured according to the desiredconfiguration for the user, no reconfiguration may be required.

However, if none of the plurality of candidate modularly reconfigurablevehicles is configured according to the desired configuration for theuser and/or are not close enough distance to the user, reconfigurationof one of the plurality of candidate modularly reconfigurable vehiclesmay be instructed or performed. According to one aspect, the processor110 b of the server 110 may identify the target reconfiguration stationbased on a distance or a travel time from respective candidatereconfiguration stations to the location associated with the request orthe location of the user or mobile device. According to another aspect,the processor 110 b of the server 110 may identify the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle 104 from the plurality of candidate modularlyreconfigurable vehicles based on a distance or a travel time from acurrent position of respective plurality of candidate modularlyreconfigurable vehicles to the target reconfiguration station.

The processor 110 b of the server 110 may consider factors other thanthe distance of the corresponding candidate modularly reconfigurablevehicle to a given reconfiguration station or to the user and/or whetherthe corresponding candidate modularly reconfigurable vehicle isconfigured in the desired configuration for the user. For example, theprocessor 110 b of the server 110 may identify the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle 104 from the plurality of candidate modularlyreconfigurable vehicles based on a reconfiguration time and/or deliverytime associated with reconfiguring the modularly reconfigurable vehicle104 according to the desired configuration as the modularly reconfiguredvehicle from a current configuration associated with respectiveplurality of candidate modularly reconfigurable vehicles.

In any event, once the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 isidentified from the plurality of candidate modularly reconfigurablevehicles and the target reconfiguration station is identified from theplurality of candidate reconfiguration stations, the processor 110 b ofthe server 110 may provide an instruction to the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle 104 to travel to the target reconfigurationstation. In this regard, according to the autonomous aspect, thecommunication interface 144 of the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104may receive the instruction to travel to the target reconfigurationstation and autonomously navigate from a current position or location tothe target reconfiguration station. Stated another way, in response toreceiving the instruction to travel to the target reconfigurationstation, the modularly reconfigured vehicle may autonomously navigate tothe target reconfiguration station. Similarly, in response to receivingthe instruction to travel to the location associated with the request,the modularly reconfigured vehicle may autonomously navigate to thelocation associated with the request.

According to the manual aspect, the communication interface 180 of thesecond mobile device 108 may receive the instruction to travel to thetarget reconfiguration station and the GPS 178 of the second mobiledevice 108 may generate navigation instructions or turn by turninstructions from a current position or location of the second mobiledevice 108 to the target reconfiguration station, thereby enabling anoperator of the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 to transport ordeliver the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 to the targetreconfiguration station. In this way, providing the instruction to themodularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 to travel to the targetreconfiguration station enables the selected modularly reconfigurablevehicle to either travel autonomously or be driven manually to thetarget reconfiguration station for reconfiguration according to theuser's desired configuration.

Upon the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 reaching the targetreconfiguration station, the processor 110 b of the server 110 mayprovide an instruction to reconfigure the modularly reconfigurablevehicle 104 according to the desired configuration as a modularlyreconfigured vehicle. The modification or reconfiguration station mayreceive these instructions to reconfigure the modularly reconfigurablevehicle 104 and reconfigure the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104according to the desired configuration as the modularly reconfiguredvehicle (e.g., either manually or automatically, such as by using aconfiguration robot).

The modification station device 106 may include a configuration robot165. The configuration robot 165 may move or reconfigure theinterchangeable module 152 and the second interchangeable module 192,such as by securing one of the interchangeable module 152 or the secondinterchangeable module 192 to the shell module 148 based on theaforementioned request associated with the mobile device 102. In otherwords, if the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 104 is equipped orconfigured with the interchangeable module 152, the configuration robot165 may remove the interchangeable module 152 from the shell module 148such that the attachment interface 154 of the interchangeable module 152is no longer attached to the attachment interface 150 of the shellmodule 148. The configuration robot 165 may proceed to attach the secondinterchangeable module 192 to the shell module 148 such that theattachment interface 194 of the second interchangeable module 192 isattached to the attachment interface 150 of the shell module 148.

According to one aspect, the configuration robot 165 may include arobotic arm which may perform the removal or the attachment associatedwith the different interchangeable modules 152, 192. Further, theconfiguration robot 165 may customize respective interchangeable modules152, 192 on a case by case basis. For example, if the user of the mobiledevice 102 indicates, via the input device 122, that four seats aredesired within a specific interchangeable module 152, 192 the roboticarm of the configuration robot 165 may configure the respectiveinterchangeable module 152, 192 to include the number of desired seats,for example. This customization by the configuration robot 165 may beautomatic and based on the request received at the mobile device 102.

After reconfiguration, the modularly reconfigured vehicle may beprovided with an instruction, via the server 110, to travel to thelocation associated with the request or to the location associated withthe requesting user and/or the mobile device 102. Stated another way,upon the modularly reconfigured vehicle being reconfigured according tothe desired configuration, the processor 110 b of the server 110 mayprovide the instruction to the modularly reconfigured vehicle 104 totravel to the location associated with the request.

Thus, the modularly reconfigured vehicle 104 (e.g., previously thevehicle to be modified) may be manually driven or autonomously navigatedfrom the target reconfiguration station to the location associated withthe request. In this way, the second mobile device 108 may receive theinstruction to the modularly reconfigured vehicle to travel to thelocation associated with the request if the modularly reconfiguredvehicle is being manually driven.

If the second modularly reconfigurable vehicle is already present nearthe user or associated with use, the processor 110 b, upon the modularlyreconfigured vehicle arriving at the location associated with therequest, may provide an instruction to the second modularlyreconfigurable vehicle at the location associated with the request totravel to a predetermined location. In other words, if the user has thesecond modularly reconfigurable vehicle on site present with him or herwhich is not configured according to his or her desired configuration,the second modularly reconfigurable vehicle may be instructed to leaveor travel to the predetermined location once the ordered or requestedmodularly reconfigurable vehicle arrives or is delivered or once therequest is placed or received, for example. The predetermined locationmay be any of the plurality of candidate reconfiguration stations or toa location which is associated with a higher historical demand for thecurrent configuration associated with that second modularlyreconfigurable vehicle.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an exemplary flow diagram of a method 200for delivery of a modularly reconfigurable vehicle, according to oneaspect. The method 200 for delivery of a modularly reconfigurablevehicle may include receiving 202 a request for the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle. The request may include a desired configurationassociated with the modularly reconfigurable vehicle and a locationassociated with the request. The method may include identifying 204 themodularly reconfigurable vehicle from the plurality of candidatemodularly reconfigurable vehicles and a target reconfiguration stationfrom a plurality of candidate reconfiguration stations, providing 206 aninstruction to the modularly reconfigurable vehicle to travel to thetarget reconfiguration station, upon the modularly reconfigurablevehicle reaching the target reconfiguration station, providing 208 aninstruction to reconfigure the modularly reconfigurable vehicleaccording to the desired configuration as a modularly reconfiguredvehicle, upon the modularly reconfigured vehicle being reconfiguredaccording to the desired configuration, and providing 210 an instructionto the modularly reconfigured vehicle to travel to the locationassociated with the request. The method 200 may also include upon themodularly reconfigured vehicle arriving at the location associated withthe request, providing 212 an instruction to a second modularlyreconfigurable vehicle at the location associated with the request totravel to a predetermined location. Any of the method 200, acts, orsteps described herein may be performed in whole or in part via theprocessor 112 of the mobile device 102, the processor 132 of themodularly reconfigurable vehicle 104, the processor 166 of the secondmobile device 108, or the processor 110 b of the server 110, dependingon the desired implementation.

In other words, although some acts, steps, or functions may be describedherein with reference to the processor 112 of the mobile device 102, forexample, it will be appreciated that the processor 132 of the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle 104, or the processor 166 of the second mobiledevice 108, or the processor 110 b of the server 110 may perform theseacts, steps, or functions according to other aspects. As anotherexample, although some acts, steps, or functions may be described hereinwith reference to the processor 110 b of the server 110, it will beappreciated that the processor 132 of the modularly reconfigurablevehicle 104, or the processor 166 of the second mobile device 108, orthe processor 112 of the mobile device 102 may perform these acts,steps, or functions according to other aspects.

FIGS. 3A-3B are illustrations of an exemplary modularly reconfigurablevehicle, according to one aspect. In an implementation 300A of FIG. 3A,the drive module 146 can be seen as being attached to the shell module148, which includes the shell module attachment interface 150. Theinterchangeable module 152, which is not yet attached or secured to theshell module 148, may include its own interchangeable module attachmentinterface 154. In an implementation 300B of FIG. 3B, it can be seen thatthe interchangeable module attachment interface 154 of theinterchangeable module 152 is secured to the shell module attachmentinterface 150 of the shell module 148, thereby securing theinterchangeable module 152 to the shell module 148 and the drive module146 of the modularly reconfigurable vehicle. Other interchangeablemodules, such as another interchangeable module 192 including its ownassociated attachment interface 194 may be swapped out for theinterchangeable module 152 of FIGS. 3A-3B.

FIGS. 4-6 are illustrations of an exemplary modularly reconfigurablevehicle, according to one aspect. FIG. 4 is an illustration of anexemplary modularly reconfigurable vehicle including an e-commerce typeinterchangeable module 152 connected to the shell module 148, accordingto one aspect. FIG. 5 is an illustration of an exemplary modularlyreconfigurable vehicle including an office type interchangeable module152 connected to the shell module 148 and the drive module 146 via theshell module attachment interface 150. FIG. 6 is an illustration of anexemplary modularly reconfigurable vehicle including another office typeinterchangeable module 152 connected to the shell module 148 via theshell module attachment interface 150.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an exemplary user interface 700 associatedwith the system for delivery of the modularly reconfigurable vehicle ofFIG. 1, according to one aspect. In FIG. 7, the user interface 700 maybe rendered on a display 120, 174 of a mobile device 102, 108 via theapplication 710 associated with delivery of the modularly reconfigurablevehicle, illustrating the drive module 146 and the shell module 148,which may be outfitted with a variety of different interchangeablemodule options 752 a, 752 b, 752 c, 752 d, 752 e, 752 f, 752 g, and 752h, which may be indicative of options for an office module, a campingmodule, a recreation module, a power-sports module, a shuttle module, ane-commerce module, a mobile-charger exchange module, and a hotel module,respectively. As seen in FIG. 7, an exemplary drive module 146 and shellmodule 148 are depicted, thereby enabling the ordering or requestinguser to visually identify or preview the requested module prior toordering or delivery. The application 710 may enable the user to preview3D renderings of the different interiors of the respective modules.

FIGS. 8A-8D are illustrations of exemplary scenarios 800A, 800B, 800C,800D, respectively, associated with delivery of a modularlyreconfigurable vehicle, according to one aspect. In FIG. 8A, a user 810using the mobile device 102 running the application associated withdelivery of the modularly reconfigurable vehicle may be utilized toinitiate a request for modularly reconfigurable vehicle according to thespecifications or desired configuration of the user 810. A modularlyreconfigurable vehicle, selected from a plurality of candidate modularlyreconfigurable vehicles, may include the drive module 146 or driveportion and a first interchangeable module 152 a as a vehicle to bemodified. In FIG. 8A, the user 810 has selected an interchangeablemodule from among a second interchangeable module 152 b, a thirdinterchangeable module 152 c, and a fourth interchangeable module 152 d.These modules are located at a target reconfiguration station 812 (e.g.,selected from a plurality of candidate reconfiguration stations).According to the aspect depicted in FIG. 8A, a human driver 820,utilizing the second mobile device 108, may receive instructions ornavigation instructions from the server 110 to travel from the currentlocation to the target reconfiguration station 812. The human driver 820may navigate to the target reconfiguration station 812 along a route 818based on the instructions received from the second mobile device 108. InFIG. 8B, the human driver 820 has arrived at the target reconfigurationstation 812, and reconfiguration of the modularly reconfigurable vehicle(including drive module 146) may be performed (e.g., manually orautomatically by a reconfiguration system or robot).

In FIG. 8C, the reconfiguration has been performed, and the selectedinterchangeable module (e.g., the third interchangeable module 152 c)has been secured to the modularly reconfigurable vehicle in place of thefirst interchangeable module 152 a. A second human driver 822 may beginnavigation back to the user 810 or the location of the mobile device102. The second human driver 822 may be the same or different than thefirst human driver 820 of FIGS. 8A-8B. Similarly to the first humandriver 820, the second human driver 822 may also utilize the secondmobile device 108, and receive navigation instructions from the server110 from the current location of the second mobile device 108 to thelocation of the user 810 or the location of the first mobile device. InFIG. 8D, the modularly reconfigured vehicle may travel along a route 880from the reconfiguration station 812 to the location of the user 810.According to other aspects, the modularly reconfigurable vehicle(including drive module 146) may be autonomously navigated, via thedrive module 146 along the route 880 or the route 818, for example.

FIGS. 9A-9D are illustrations of exemplary scenarios 900A, 900B, 900C,900D, respectively, associated with delivery of a modularlyreconfigurable vehicle, according to one aspect. In FIG. 9A, a firstlocation 902 and a second location 904 (e.g., destination) are depicted.One or more passengers 910 may take the modularly reconfigurable vehiclefrom the first location 902 to the second location 904. Here, themodularly reconfigurable vehicle may be equipped with a firstinterchangeable module 952. In FIG. 9B, the passengers 910 have arrivedat the second location 904 along a route 906. In FIG. 9C, one of thepassengers 910, using the mobile device 102, may place an order orrequest for a different interchangeable module. For example, thepassenger 910 may request a second interchangeable module 954, a thirdinterchangeable module 956, or a fourth interchangeable module 958. Themodularly reconfigurable vehicle may proceed autonomously to thereconfiguration station 966 along a route 962 from the second location904 to the reconfiguration station 966. If the passenger 910 selects thethird interchangeable module 956, reconfiguration of the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle may be performed at the reconfiguration station966 to swap out the first interchangeable module 952 with the thirdinterchangeable module 956. In FIG. 9D, the modularly reconfiguredvehicle may be autonomously guided from the reconfiguration station 966back to the location associated with the user or passenger along route968, using the drive module 146, which may include a controller forautonomous operation.

FIGS. 10A-10D are illustrations of exemplary scenarios 1000A, 1000B,1000C, 1000D, respectively, associated with delivery of a modularlyreconfigurable vehicle, according to one aspect. In FIG. 10A, there is afirst location 1002 and a reconfiguration station 1004. A user 1010 islocated at the first location 1002 and may place a request for themodularly reconfigurable vehicle via the mobile device 102. In FIG. 10A,there is a modularly reconfigurable vehicle associated with the user'sMaaS subscription, but in a configuration which may not be desired bythe user 1010 at the time of the request. For example, the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle having drive module 146 may be configured with afirst interchangeable module 1012. In the request submitted by the user1010 via the mobile device 102, the user 1010 may request a differentinterchangeable module, such as a second interchangeable module 1014, athird interchangeable module 1016, or a fourth interchangeable module1018. In this regard, the mobile device 102 may transmit the request,including the desired configuration and the location associated with therequest or the location of the user 1010 to the server 110.

The server 110 may identify a modularly reconfigurable vehicle 1046,such as the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 1046 associated with adifferent interchangeable module 1052 and near a target reconfigurationstation 1004. The server 110 may then provide this modularlyreconfigurable vehicle 1046 with an instruction to travel to the targetreconfiguration station 1004, which may be equipped to modify orreconfigure the modularly reconfigurable vehicle associated with thedifferent interchangeable module 1052 according to the desiredconfiguration of the second interchangeable module 1014. Thus, as seenin FIG. 10B, once the modularly reconfigurable vehicle 1046 arrives atthe target reconfiguration station 1004, the server 110 may provide aninstruction to the modification station device 106 to reconfigure themodularly reconfigurable vehicle 1046 according to the desiredconfiguration as a modularly reconfigured vehicle. This modularlyreconfigured vehicle 1046 may be seen at FIG. 10C, where the modularlyreconfigured vehicle is equipped with the second interchangeable module1014, and the old interchangeable module 1052 is left at the targetreconfiguration station 1004.

In this regard, when the modularly reconfigured vehicle 1046 isreconfigured according to the desired configuration using the secondinterchangeable module 1014, the server 110 may provide an instructionto the modularly reconfigured vehicle 1046 to travel to the location1002 associated with the request or to the user 1010. Additionally, thepreviously used modularly reconfigured vehicle having drive module 146associated with the first interchangeable module 1012 may be sent to apredetermined location, such as to the reconfiguration station 1004. InFIGS. 10A-10D, the modularly configured vehicles having drive module146, 1046 may travel autonomously between the first location 1002 andthe reconfiguration station 1004 and/or vice versa, or along any otherroutes 1090 taken. According to other aspects, a human driver maymanually drive the modularly configured vehicles between the differentlocations.

Still another aspect involves a computer-readable medium includingprocessor-executable instructions configured to implement one aspect ofthe techniques presented herein. An aspect of a computer-readable mediumor a computer-readable device devised in these ways is illustrated inFIG. 11, wherein an implementation 1100 includes a computer-readablemedium 1108, such as a CD-R, DVD-R, flash drive, a platter of a harddisk drive, etc., on which is encoded computer-readable data 1106. Thisencoded computer-readable data 1106, such as binary data including aplurality of zero's and one's as shown in 1106, in turn includes a setof processor-executable computer instructions 1104 configured to operateaccording to one or more of the principles set forth herein. In thisimplementation 1100, the processor-executable computer instructions 1104may be configured to perform a method 1102, such as the method 200 ofFIG. 2. In another aspect, the processor-executable computerinstructions 1104 may be configured to implement a system, such as thesystem 100 of FIG. 1. Many such computer-readable media may be devisedby those of ordinary skill in the art that are configured to operate inaccordance with the techniques presented herein.

As used in this application, the terms “component”, “module,” “system”,“interface”, and the like are generally intended to refer to acomputer-related entity, either hardware, a combination of hardware andsoftware, software, or software in execution. For example, a componentmay be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, aprocessing unit, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, aprogram, or a computer. By way of illustration, both an applicationrunning on a controller and the controller may be a component. One ormore components residing within a process or thread of execution and acomponent may be localized on one computer or distributed between two ormore computers.

Further, the claimed subject matter is implemented as a method,apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming orengineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or anycombination thereof to control a computer to implement the disclosedsubject matter. The term “article of manufacture” as used herein isintended to encompass a computer program accessible from anycomputer-readable device, carrier, or media. Of course, manymodifications may be made to this configuration without departing fromthe scope or spirit of the claimed subject matter.

FIG. 12 and the following discussion provide a description of a suitablecomputing environment to implement aspects of one or more of theprovisions set forth herein. The operating environment of FIG. 12 ismerely one example of a suitable operating environment and is notintended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use orfunctionality of the operating environment. Example computing devicesinclude, but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers,handheld or laptop devices, mobile devices, such as mobile phones,Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), media players, and the like,multiprocessor systems, consumer electronics, mini computers, mainframecomputers, distributed computing environments that include any of theabove systems or devices, etc.

Generally, aspects are described in the general context of “computerreadable instructions” being executed by one or more computing devices.Computer readable instructions may be distributed via computer readablemedia as will be discussed below. Computer readable instructions may beimplemented as program modules, such as functions, objects, ApplicationProgramming Interfaces (APIs), data structures, and the like, thatperform one or more tasks or implement one or more abstract data types.Typically, the functionality of the computer readable instructions arecombined or distributed as desired in various environments.

FIG. 12 illustrates a system 1200 including a computing device 1212configured to implement one aspect provided herein. In oneconfiguration, the computing device 1212 includes at least oneprocessing unit 1216 and memory 1218. Depending on the exactconfiguration and type of computing device, memory 1218 may be volatile,such as RAM, non-volatile, such as ROM, flash memory, etc., or acombination of the two. This configuration is illustrated in FIG. 12 bydashed line 1214.

In other aspects, the computing device 1212 includes additional featuresor functionality. For example, the computing device 1212 may includeadditional storage such as removable storage or non-removable storage,including, but not limited to, magnetic storage, optical storage, etc.Such additional storage is illustrated in FIG. 12 by storage 1220. Inone aspect, computer readable instructions to implement one aspectprovided herein are in storage 1220. Storage 1220 may store othercomputer readable instructions to implement an operating system, anapplication program, etc. Computer readable instructions may be loadedin memory 1218 for execution by processing unit 1216, for example.

The term “computer readable media” as used herein includes computerstorage media. Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile,removable and non-removable media implemented in any method ortechnology for storage of information such as computer readableinstructions or other data. Memory 1218 and storage 1220 are examples ofcomputer storage media. Computer storage media includes, but is notlimited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology,CD-ROM, Digital Versatile Disks (DVDs) or other optical storage,magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or any other medium which may be used to storethe desired information and which may be accessed by the computingdevice 1212. Any such computer storage media is part of the computingdevice 1212.

The term “computer readable media” includes communication media.Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions orother data in a “modulated data signal” such as a carrier wave or othertransport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. Theterm “modulated data signal” includes a signal that has one or more ofits characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encodeinformation in the signal.

The computing device 1212 includes input device(s) 1224 such askeyboard, mouse, pen, voice input device, touch input device, infraredcameras, video input devices, or any other input device. Outputdevice(s) 1222 such as one or more displays, speakers, printers, or anyother output device may be included with the computing device 1212.Input device(s) 1224 and output device(s) 1222 may be connected to thecomputing device 1212 via a wired connection, wireless connection, orany combination thereof. In one aspect, an input device or an outputdevice from another computing device may be used as input device(s) 1224or output device(s) 1222 for the computing device 1212. The computingdevice 1212 may include communication connection(s) 1226 to facilitatecommunications with one or more other devices 1230, such as throughnetwork 1228, for example.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific tostructural features or methodological acts, it is to be understood thatthe subject matter of the appended claims is not necessarily limited tothe specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specificfeatures and acts described above are disclosed as example aspects.

Various operations of aspects are provided herein. The order in whichone or more or all of the operations are described should not beconstrued as to imply that these operations are necessarily orderdependent. Alternative ordering will be appreciated based on thisdescription. Further, not all operations may necessarily be present ineach aspect provided herein.

As used in this application, “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or”rather than an exclusive “or”. Further, an inclusive “or” may includeany combination thereof (e.g., A, B, or any combination thereof). Inaddition, “a” and “an” as used in this application are generallyconstrued to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear fromcontext to be directed to a singular form. Additionally, at least one ofA and B and/or the like generally means A or B or both A and B. Further,to the extent that “includes”, “having”, “has”, “with”, or variantsthereof are used in either the detailed description or the claims, suchterms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term“comprising”.

Further, unless specified otherwise, “first”, “second”, or the like arenot intended to imply a temporal aspect, a spatial aspect, an ordering,etc. Rather, such terms are merely used as identifiers, names, etc. forfeatures, elements, items, etc. For example, a first channel and asecond channel generally correspond to channel A and channel B or twodifferent or two identical channels or the same channel. Additionally,“comprising”, “comprises”, “including”, “includes”, or the likegenerally means comprising or including, but not limited to.

It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and otherfeatures and functions, or alternatives or varieties thereof, may bedesirably combined into many other different systems or applications.Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives,modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequentlymade by those skilled in the art which are also intended to beencompassed by the following claims.

1. A method for delivery of a modularly reconfigurable vehicle,comprising: receiving a request for the modularly reconfigurablevehicle, wherein the request includes a desired configuration associatedwith the modularly reconfigurable vehicle and a location associated withthe request; identifying the modularly reconfigurable vehicle from aplurality of candidate modularly reconfigurable vehicles and a targetreconfiguration station from a plurality of candidate reconfigurationstations; providing an instruction to the modularly reconfigurablevehicle to travel to the target reconfiguration station; upon themodularly reconfigurable vehicle reaching the target reconfigurationstation, providing an instruction to reconfigure the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle according to the desired configuration as amodularly reconfigured vehicle; and upon the modularly reconfiguredvehicle being reconfigured according to the desired configuration,providing an instruction to the modularly reconfigured vehicle to travelto the location associated with the request.
 2. The method for deliveryof the modularly reconfigurable vehicle of claim 1, comprising upon themodularly reconfigured vehicle arriving at the location associated withthe request, providing an instruction to a second modularlyreconfigurable vehicle at the location associated with the request totravel to a predetermined location.
 3. The method for delivery of themodularly reconfigurable vehicle of claim 1, comprising upon themodularly reconfigurable vehicle reaching the target reconfigurationstation, reconfiguring the modularly reconfigurable vehicle according tothe desired configuration as the modularly reconfigured vehicle.
 4. Themethod for delivery of the modularly reconfigurable vehicle of claim 1,comprising determining the location associated with the request.
 5. Themethod for delivery of the modularly reconfigurable vehicle of claim 1,comprising identifying a current configuration associated with each ofthe plurality of candidate modularly reconfigurable vehicles.
 6. Themethod for delivery of the modularly reconfigurable vehicle of claim 1,comprising identifying the modularly reconfigurable vehicle from theplurality of candidate modularly reconfigurable vehicles based on areconfiguration time associated with reconfiguring the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle according to the desired configuration as themodularly reconfigured vehicle from a current configuration associatedwith respective plurality of candidate modularly reconfigurablevehicles.
 7. The method for delivery of the modularly reconfigurablevehicle of claim 1, comprising identifying the modularly reconfigurablevehicle from the plurality of candidate modularly reconfigurablevehicles based on a distance or a travel time from a current position ofrespective plurality of candidate modularly reconfigurable vehicles tothe target reconfiguration station.
 8. The method for delivery of themodularly reconfigurable vehicle of claim 1, comprising identifying thetarget reconfiguration station based on a distance or a travel time fromrespective candidate reconfiguration stations to the location associatedwith the request.
 9. The method for delivery of the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle of claim 1, reconfiguring the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle as the desired configuration includesreconfiguration using an office module, a camping module, a recreationor sports module, a power-sports module, a limo or shuttle module, ane-commerce module, a mobile charger exchange module, or a short stay orhotel module.
 10. The method for delivery of the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle of claim 1, wherein in response to receiving theinstruction to travel to the location associated with the request, themodularly reconfigured vehicle autonomously navigates to the locationassociated with the request.
 11. A system for delivery of a modularlyreconfigurable vehicle, comprising a processor performing: receiving arequest for the modularly reconfigurable vehicle, wherein the requestincludes a desired configuration associated with the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle and a location associated with the request;identifying the modularly reconfigurable vehicle from a plurality ofcandidate modularly reconfigurable vehicles and a target reconfigurationstation from a plurality of candidate reconfiguration stations;providing an instruction to the modularly reconfigurable vehicle totravel to the target reconfiguration station; upon the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle reaching the target reconfiguration station,providing an instruction to reconfigure the modularly reconfigurablevehicle according to the desired configuration as a modularlyreconfigured vehicle; and upon the modularly reconfigured vehicle beingreconfigured according to the desired configuration, providing aninstruction to the modularly reconfigured vehicle to travel to thelocation associated with the request.
 12. The system for delivery of themodularly reconfigurable vehicle of claim 11, wherein the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle includes a drive module, a shell module, and aninterchangeable module.
 13. The system for delivery of the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle of claim 12, wherein the interchangeable moduleincludes an office module, a camping module, a recreation or sportsmodule, a power-sports module, a limo or shuttle module, an e-commercemodule, a mobile charger exchange module, or a short stay or hotelmodule.
 14. The system for delivery of the modularly reconfigurablevehicle of claim 12, wherein the drive module includes an autonomousdrive controller autonomously navigating the modularly reconfigurablevehicle from a current position to the location associated with therequest.
 15. A system for delivery of a modularly reconfigurablevehicle, comprising a processor performing: receiving a request for themodularly reconfigurable vehicle, wherein the request includes a desiredconfiguration associated with the modularly reconfigurable vehicle and alocation associated with the request; identifying the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle from a plurality of candidate modularlyreconfigurable vehicles and a target reconfiguration station from aplurality of candidate reconfiguration stations; providing aninstruction to the modularly reconfigurable vehicle to travel to thetarget reconfiguration station; upon the modularly reconfigurablevehicle reaching the target reconfiguration station, providing aninstruction to reconfigure the modularly reconfigurable vehicleaccording to the desired configuration as a modularly reconfiguredvehicle; upon the modularly reconfigured vehicle being reconfiguredaccording to the desired configuration, providing an instruction to themodularly reconfigured vehicle to travel to the location associated withthe request; and upon the modularly reconfigured vehicle arriving at thelocation associated with the request, providing an instruction to asecond modularly reconfigurable vehicle at the location associated withthe request to travel to a predetermined location.
 16. The system fordelivery of the modularly reconfigurable vehicle of claim 15, whereinthe processor determines the location associated with the request. 17.The system for delivery of the modularly reconfigurable vehicle of claim15, wherein the processor receives a current configuration associatedwith each of the plurality of candidate modularly reconfigurablevehicles.
 18. The system for delivery of the modularly reconfigurablevehicle of claim 15, wherein the processor identifies the modularlyreconfigurable vehicle from the plurality of candidate modularlyreconfigurable vehicles based on a reconfiguration time associated withreconfiguring the modularly reconfigurable vehicle according to thedesired configuration as the modularly reconfigured vehicle from acurrent configuration associated with respective plurality of candidatemodularly reconfigurable vehicles.
 19. The system for delivery of themodularly reconfigurable vehicle of claim 15, wherein the processoridentifies the modularly reconfigurable vehicle from the plurality ofcandidate modularly reconfigurable vehicles based on a distance or atravel time from a current position of respective plurality of candidatemodularly reconfigurable vehicles to the target reconfiguration station.20. The system for delivery of the modularly reconfigurable vehicle ofclaim 15, wherein the processor identifies the target reconfigurationstation based on a distance or a travel time from respective candidatereconfiguration stations to the location associated with the request.